Cont: The Biden Presidency Part II

[Delvo]

The problem with Republicans isn't that they aren't for anything. It's that what they're for is what the country already has so there's nothing that would need to be done to get it.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

The problem with Republicans isn't that they aren't for anything. It's that what they're for is what the country already has so there's nothing that would need to be done to get it.

Indeed, this country is galloping to the right so fast that the Republicans keep having to re-establish the goalposts.

A few decades ago the ACA would have been the conservative solution to a healthcare crisis, propping up the private market and excluding any meaningful government option. That doesn't cut the mustard anymore.

 

[Delphic Oracle]

Indeed, this country is galloping to the right so fast that the Republicans keep having to re-establish the goalposts.



A few decades ago the ACA would have been the conservative solution to a healthcare crisis, propping up the private market and excluding any meaningful government option. That doesn't cut the mustard anymore.

The ACA, individual mandate and all, was largely modeled on the Heritage Foundation/Newt Gingrich counter-proposal to Bill Clinton's attempts at healthcare reform in the 90s.

So not "would have been" as in a theoretical idea for dramatic effect, but literally and actually was a major policy plank in their party national platform.

We're a decade past when they said no to (and denigrate in grave terms) their own idea from 2 decades before that.

 

[The Atheist]

Biden doing badly with black voters. It could result in low turnout in 2024. "It's too hard to vote now. And voting made no difference in 2022..."

Do we have anybody but Biden or Harris to run?

You're funny.

 

[Warp12]

Why do people constantly talk about the economy's improvement over the past year? We just came off of the massive economic devastation created by the pandemic. The really noteworthy story would have been if we didn't see a record-breaking upturn.

 

[gnome]

Why do people constantly talk about the economy's improvement over the past year? We just came off of the massive economic devastation created by the pandemic. The really noteworthy story would have been if we didn't see a record-breaking upturn.

I think it may have to do with Republicans trying to pretend that economic recovery started with Trump's election and hadn't already been progressing steadily for quite some time. It makes sense to try and make it more visible in the public mind while it's going on. And why not celebrate good news, even if it's expected? We always complain that the news only wants to show bad news, why should we complain when they switch it up?

 

[Aridas]

Why do people constantly talk about the economy's improvement over the past year? We just came off of the massive economic devastation created by the pandemic. The really noteworthy story would have been if we didn't see a record-breaking upturn.

We are coming off the massive economic devastation created by the pandemic, yes, but that's hardly the only thing worthy of note. To poke at a couple of them -

1) Comparatively, the US is doing quite well, economically. Having the only developed country with an economy better than their pre-pandemic economy (and by a notable amount, at that) really is a positive thing of note on that front. That a significant part of that is directly attributable to legislation that the Democrats managed to push through despite Republican obstructionism is plenty worthy of note in and of itself.

2) Both the right-wing media and the MSM have... downplayed the economy with very frequent downer/crisis news and barely acknowledged it when that downer news ended up being misleading, if they acknowledged it at all. No gifts for Christmas didn't materialize (in part because of White House action). The disappointing job reports got dramatically much more coverage than the later repeated revisions upwards that ended up greatly surpassing their arbitrary bars. More could be said, but... there's certainly nothing wrong with acting to correct the narratives being spread, especially when those false and misleading narratives can cause real negative effects on our future.

I could add more easily enough, but that's enough, I think.

 

[Warp12]

This is pretty humorous:

Biden caught cursing about Fox News reporter on a hot mic
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/jo...sing-about-fox-news-reporter-hot-mic-n1287956

I'm starting to get a "senile Jerry Lewis" vibe, here.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

This is pretty humorous:

Biden caught cursing about Fox News reporter on a hot mic
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/jo...sing-about-fox-news-reporter-hot-mic-n1287956

I'm starting to get a "senile Jerry Lewis" vibe, here.

"caught" is doing Biden a disservice. It was an open rebuke in front of the man's peers. Imagine having to deal with incessant whiney Fox News reporters all the time.

It's the most relatable that Biden has seemed to me in some time.

It's not like Biden is going to persuade the Fox News insane asylum, may as well dunk on these dweebs at every opportunity.

 

[Warp12]

"caught" is doing Biden a disservice. It was an open rebuke in front of the man's peers. Imagine having to deal with incessant whiney Fox News reporters all the time.

It's the most relatable that Biden has seemed to me in some time.

It's not like Biden is going to persuade the Fox News insane asylum, may as well dunk on these dweebs at every opportunity.

The only way we can deem this acceptable is because of the egregious nature of Trump. I think Biden knows better. He is supposedly restoring dignity to the office, right? At least, that is what I would like to see.

 

[pgwenthold]

For sure. Remember how we praise those guys who "aren't PC" and "tell it like it is."

Unless, of course, they insult a precious little Fox reporter, in which case, it's awful.

 

[Warp12]

For sure. Remember how we praise those guys who "aren't PC" and "tell it like it is."

Unless, of course, they insult a precious little Fox reporter, in which case, it's awful.

This is more like a geriatric moment; it's not like it was his intent to get caught saying that. He had a lapse of decorum; the very thing he is so much against.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

The "senile" Biden insults would probably sting a bit more if the figurehead of the Republican party wasn't also an ailing old man. US politics has all the energy of a crypt.

 

[Warp12]

The "senile" Biden insults would probably sting a bit more if the figurehead of the Republican party wasn't also an ailing old man. US politics has all the energy of a crypt.

I don't see it as an insult; it's an observation. Totally reminds me of Jerry Lewis.

All of these crypt-keepers need to go.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

If such degrading language was wrong for Trump, it is wrong for Biden as well. Otherwise it’s the very definition of double standards.

Then again, nothing wrong with pointing out the hypocrisy of Trump supporters jumping on this after the 4 year poop show we recently endured, including repeated vulgarities at public events.

 

[Warp12]

If such degrading language was wrong for Trump, it is wrong for Biden as well. Otherwise it’s the very definition of double standards.

Then again, nothing wrong with pointing out the hypocrisy of Trump supporters jumping on this after the 4 year poop show we recently endured, including repeated vulgarities at public events.

I think that everyone is using Trump as their standard of measure. Maybe we need to go back and look at Obama and use that as the standard of measure.

Not that I agree with 100% of what he did, expression-wise, but it is a much better baseline.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

Coincidentally, this meme just hit my Twitter feed…

 

[TurkeysGhost]

All of these crypt-keepers need to go.

Well, time will see to that eventually. The battle of the geezers does add one element of suspense. Seems pretty likely to me that a battle between Biden and Trump in 2024 could easily be upended by a stroke, heart attack, or some other geriatric illness.

The political future of this country hinging on the whether two increasingly elderly men can continue to outperform the actuarial table. What fun!

 

[theprestige]

If such degrading language was wrong for Trump, it is wrong for Biden as well. Otherwise it’s the very definition of double standards.

Then again, nothing wrong with pointing out the hypocrisy of Trump supporters jumping on this after the 4 year poop show we recently endured, including repeated vulgarities at public events.

I don't have a problem with any president using such language on reporters. But Biden is of course a hypocritical scumbag for taking Trump to task for it.

Not that that's a big deal either. Politicians are incompetent, hypocritical scumbags as a general rule. And even the hypocritical attempts to handwave away Biden's hypocritical scumbaggery aren't a big surprise.

 

[shuttlt]

I think that everyone is using Trump as their standard of measure. Maybe we need to go back and look at Obama and use that as the standard of measure.

Not that I agree with 100% of what he did, expression-wise, but it is a much better baseline.

Did you see the lineup in the 2020 Primaries? Obama is at best a stretch goal for 2024. Making him the baseline is crazy.